Many times players think something is a rule because that’s the way they learned or someone told them it was a rule. Double check the rule books (Paddlewar & USA Pickleball) and don’t take someone else’s word on rules. A condensed version of USAPickleball rule book can be downloaded here (It only has the sections that apply to league play).
Reference with section letters and numbers are in the USA Pickleball Rule Book. Page number only is from the Paddlewar rule book.
Download a PDF of the common rules listed here.
Default & Forfeit- the players don’t show up. You enter the names of the players that did show up, select default from drop down and enter score 15-0. The players that show up win the game.
Retire– a game is already in progress and play stops usually due to injury or illness.The score is recorded up to that point and select forfeit from drop down.
The rules below are linked to a page with specifics for that rule. The page and section numbers listed below refer to the pdf’s of the rules.
CALLING THE SCORE
Section 6 USA Pickleball rules-Serve
Player Readiness
6.A Before the start of the score call, any player can signal they are not ready to start play.
- 6.A.1 Not ready signals: raising the paddle above the head, raising the non paddle hand above the head or completely turning your back to the net. These must be done prior to the start of the score call by the server.
6.B The score must not be called until server and receiver are in position and all players are ready to play. Server calls the score prior to serving. They will call their score first then receiving team’s score. Ex. 10-13.
6.C The entire score must be called before the server hits the serve. They CAN NOT call the score as they are in their service motion. Server must serve the ball within 10 seconds of calling the score.
CALLS DURING THE MATCH
What can you call on your opponent’s side of the court? 13.D.1.c pg 64
- You can only call non volley zone faults and service foot faults.
- Must be called as soon as claimed fault is detected.
- If there is disagreement between the two teams about the fault, a replay shall occur.
Can you call a double bounce on the opponent’s side? 13.D.1.b and 13.D.1.d pg 64
- No
- C.7 all out calls must be made prior to the ball being hit by the opponent or before ball becomes dead.
- C.10 players can yell out, no, bounce it or other words to communicate to their partner that it may be out. This is not an official line call.
- Players can only call balls out on their end of the court. Remember that it might look in from your side of the net, but it is actually out.
PEOPLE/PLAYERS WATCHING MATCHES
Can people lean or hang on the fence surrounding the court?
- No
- This includes walking behind the court to get a ball.
Can coaches, captains, spectators make verbal or non verbal calls or interject into the game?
No.
This includes:
- Correcting players on the score
- Making comments about line calls or making a line call when you aren’t playing in that game.
- Making negative comments towards players or the game
- Being a distraction to any of the players
- G.1.j except during time outs and in between games, no coaching allowed from anyone other than a partner. (all coaching must be done within the allotted time for timeouts and between games)
- C.4 spectators can’t be consulted on any line call.
- telling players to take time outs.
TIMING
Time Limits
- 2 minutes for time out
- 2 minutes between games
- 3 minutes between rounds
- 15 minute medical timeout
Time Outs
- Each team (2 players) gets 1 timeout, of up to 2 minutes, in each game.
- Time out can be called at any point during the game.
- If you want to switch sides with your partner, you must use your one time out for the game, and it must be done before you are frozen (13 regular game, 8 tie break game).
Warmup (pg 5)
- Warmup is only allowed prior to the first round.
- It is great if you can get courts and have a 30 minute warmup, but this isn’t guaranteed. You only are given a 5 minute warmup prior to the first round
Short Cuts
CALLS DURING THE MATCH
- calls on other side
- double bounce
- out balls
- standing, sitting edge of court
- walking onto the court
TIMING
MISC GAME ITEMS
WEATHER RULES
- heat
- cold
- rain
MISC GAME ITEMS
- Up to 5 minutes late: Opponents are awarded 5 points for Game 1.
- 5:01 – 10:00 minutes late: Loss of Game 1 (Score: 15-0, Game 2 starts at 0-0).
- 10:01 minutes or more: Default loss (Score: 15-0, 15-0).
- Automatic Coin Toss Loss: Late players forfeit the coin toss, giving their opponents the
- choice of serve/receive or court side.
2 Line League Tie Breaker
- Seasons playing only 2 lines and match is 3-3.
- Winner of line 1, round 3 gets the match win
Changing Players In Lineup
- New players can only be used in new lineup at start of a round.
- If someone is injured or unable to finish the game, they retire the game and enter score as it is at that point.
- If it was during first game of a round, the second game will be recorded at 15-0 as a default on against team not able to play.
- Home team decides what format to use (flip coin, rock paper scissors, pick number)
- Winner of the decision gets to choose: only one of the following: end of court, serve, receive or defer.
- Players change ends of court between each game.
- In tie breakers, you switch ends of court when one team gets to 5 points.
Other Items
- 10 H. match can’t begin until all players present and starting score called.
- G.1.j except during time outs and in between games, no coaching allowed from anyone other than a partner.
- A.1-entire score must be called before ball is served.
- DO NOT CALL balls on other courts. You can only call ball on the court you are playing on.
- Do not walk onto another court or behind the players on another court to get a ball or anything else. The space behind the players is also considered on their court. This is a distraction if they see you out of the corner of their eye.
- Lineups must be written on PW score sheet prior to exchanging lineup each round.
- Confirm scores before you leave the match.
- Winning team captain enters the scores within 48 hours of match.
WEATHER RULES
- For Fort Worth, we will use the weather channel app to be consistent.
- The home captain will notify the visiting captain no more than 3 hours prior to match to agree to call it.
- Cold weather-if the hourly “feels like” at the zip code of the facility is 32 or lower at start time of match it can be rescheduled. If the feels like will be above 32 within an hour of start time, the match will be delayed an hour if the facility is available.
- Hot temps-if the hourly “feels like” at the zip code of the facility is 103 or higher at start time of match it can be rescheduled. If the feels like will be above 103 within an hour of start time, the match will be delayed an hour if the facility is available.
- Wind-if sustained wind speeds at the facility at start time is 25mph or greater, it can be rescheduled. or if it will be under 25 within hour of start time, the match will be delayed 1 hour if ok with facility.
- If both captains agree to play indoors because of a weather-affected match, indoor court costs should be split among players of both teams (indoor court fees only – not facility guest fees if they pertain). If one team does not agree to play indoor, the match should be rescheduled to outdoors on another day (at the home team’s facility). When matches are cancelled due to weather, teams cannot be defaulted on if they do not agree to play indoors because of the cost to their players.